Systems and methods for recreating an image using white space and check element capture

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention relates to systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products for capturing and storing elements of a negotiable instrument for use in image recreation. In some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receive an image of the negotiable instrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrument comprises one or more elements that are used for processing the negotiable instrument and non-element portions that are not used in processing the negotiable instrument; (b) capture, using the image capture device, images of one or more elements of the negotiable instrument; (c) store the images of the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument in the database; and (d) store, as white space, the non-element portions of the image of the negotiable instrument in the database.

BACKGROUND

Today, many financial institutions are required by federal and somestate regulations to maintain image file records of all deposited checksand other negotiable instruments. In many instances, financialinstitutions are required to maintain this information for up to sevenyears. Currently, in the domestic market, tens of billions of dollars inchecks are processed every year. The result of such a high volume ofcheck processing by banks and other financial institutions is that verylarge amounts of storage space is required for properly maintainingimage file records as required by law. Thus, there is a need to providesystems, methods, and computer program products that enable financialinstitutions to reduce the amount of storage space required formaintaining image file records of deposited checks and other negotiableinstruments.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the present disclosure inorder to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merelypresents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as aprelude to the more detailed description provided below.

Brief Summary of Check Imaging Bifurcation/Separation

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system thatincludes: an image capture device; a database; and a processing devicein communication with the capture device and the database, wherein theprocessing device is used to: (a) receive an image of the negotiableinstrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrument comprises oneor more elements that are used for processing the negotiable instrumentand non-element portions that are not used in processing the negotiableinstrument; (b) capture, using the image capture device, images of oneor more elements of the negotiable instrument; (c) store the images ofthe one or more elements of the negotiable instrument in the database;and (d) store, as white space, the non-element portions of the image ofthe negotiable instrument in the database.

In some embodiments of the system, the processing device is furtherconfigured to generate a second image of the negotiable instrument usingthe images of the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument andthe non-element portions of the image of the negotiable instrument thatwas previously stored as white space.

In some embodiments of the system the processing device is furtherconfigured to store the non-element portions of the negotiableinstrument in an image resolution lower than an image resolution of thenon-element portions of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the system, the processing device is furtherconfigured to separate the elements of the negotiable instrument and thenon-element portions of the negotiable instrument into a plurality ofquadrants, wherein the processing device stores the quadrants comprisingelements of the negotiable instrument in a first image resolution andthe quadrants comprising non-element portions of the negotiableinstrument in a second image resolution.

In some embodiments of the system, the processing device is furtherconfigured to bifurcate the one or more images of the elements of thenegotiable instrument and the non-element portions of the negotiableinstrument such that the one or more images of the elements of thenegotiable instrument can be stored with a higher image quality than thenon-element portions of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the system, the negotiable instrument is a check,and wherein the images of the one or more elements of the negotiableinclude, at least, one of a Name, Address, Date, Check number, Payee,Check amount, Check amount line, Memo, Signature line, Routing andtransit number, and Checking account number located on the image of thecheck.

In some embodiments of the system, the generated second image of thenegotiable instrument comprises a first portion with a first imageresolution and a second portion with a second image resolution.

In some embodiments a computer-implemented method for capturing andstoring elements of a negotiable instrument for use in image recreationis provided that includes: (a) receive an image of the negotiableinstrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrument comprises oneor more elements that are used for processing the negotiable instrumentand non-element portions that are not used in processing the negotiableinstrument; (b) capture, using the image capture device, images of oneor more elements of the negotiable instrument; (c) store the images ofthe one or more elements of the negotiable instrument in the database;and (d) store, as white space, the non-element portions of the image ofthe negotiable instrument in the database.

In some embodiments of the method, the computer processor is furtherexecuting computer-readable instruction code specifically configured tocause the computer processor to generate a second image of thenegotiable instrument using the images of the one or more elements ofthe negotiable instrument and the non-element portions of the image ofthe negotiable instrument that was previously stored as white space.

In some embodiments of the method, the computer processor is furtherexecuting computer-readable instruction code specifically configured tocause the computer processor to store the non-element portions of thenegotiable instrument in an image resolution lower than an imageresolution of the non-element portions of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the method, the computer processor is furtherexecuting computer-readable instruction code specifically configured tocause the computer processor to separate the elements of the negotiableinstrument and the non-element portions of the negotiable instrumentinto a plurality of quadrants, wherein the processing device stores thequadrants comprising elements of the negotiable instrument in a firstimage resolution and the quadrants comprising non-element portions ofthe negotiable instrument in a second image resolution.

In some embodiments of the method, the computer processor is furtherexecuting computer-readable instruction code specifically configured tocause the computer processor to bifurcate the one or more images of theelements of the negotiable instrument and the non-element portions ofthe negotiable instrument such that the one or more images of theelements of the negotiable instrument can be stored with a higher imagequality than the non-element portions of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the method, the negotiable instrument is a check,and wherein the images of the one or more elements of the negotiableinclude, at least, one of a Name, Address, Date, Check number, Payee,Check amount, Check amount line, Memo, Signature line, Routing andtransit number, and Checking account number located on the image of thecheck.

In some embodiments of the method, the generated second image of thenegotiable instrument comprises a first portion with a first imageresolution and a second portion with a second image resolution.

In some embodiments of the present invention a computer program productfor capturing and storing elements of a negotiable instrument for use inimage recreation is provided that includes a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readablemedium comprises one or more computer-executable program code portionsthat, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: (a) receive animage of the negotiable instrument, wherein the image of the negotiableinstrument comprises one or more elements that are used for processingthe negotiable instrument and non-element portions that are not used inprocessing the negotiable instrument; (b) capture, using the imagecapture device, images of one or more elements of the negotiableinstrument; (c) store the images of the one or more elements of thenegotiable instrument in the database; and (d) store, as white space,the non-element portions of the image of the negotiable instrument inthe database.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by thecomputer, cause the computer to generate a second image of thenegotiable instrument using the images of the one or more elements ofthe negotiable instrument and the non-element portions of the image ofthe negotiable instrument that was previously stored as white space.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by thecomputer, cause the computer to store the non-element portions of thenegotiable instrument in an image resolution lower than an imageresolution of the non-element portions of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by thecomputer, cause the computer to separate the elements of the negotiableinstrument and the non-element portions of the negotiable instrumentinto a plurality of quadrants, wherein the processing device stores thequadrants comprising elements of the negotiable instrument in a firstimage resolution and the quadrants comprising non-element portions ofthe negotiable instrument in a second image resolution.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by thecomputer, cause the computer to bifurcate the one or more images of theelements of the negotiable instrument and the non-element portions ofthe negotiable instrument such that the one or more images of theelements of the negotiable instrument can be stored with a higher imagequality than the non-element portions of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the negotiableinstrument is a check, and wherein the images of the one or moreelements of the negotiable include, at least, one of a Name, Address,Date, Check number, Payee, Check amount, Check amount line, Memo,Signature line, Routing and transit number, and Checking account numberlocated on the image of the check.

Brief Summary of Check Image Thumbnail

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system thatincludes: an image capture device; a database; and a processing devicein communication with the capture device and the database, wherein theprocessing device is used to: (a) receive an image of the negotiableinstrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrument comprises oneor more elements that are used for processing the negotiable instrument;(b) capture, using the image capture device, images of one or moreelements of the negotiable instrument; (c) generate a thumbnail image ofthe negotiable instrument based at least partially on an image of thenegotiable instrument; and (d) store the images of the one or moreelements of the negotiable instrument and the thumbnail image of thenegotiable instrument in the database.

In some embodiments of the system, the processing device is furtherconfigured to generate a second image of the negotiable instrument usingthe images of the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument andthe thumbnail image of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the system, the generating the thumbnail image ofthe negotiable instrument comprises de-enhancing a copy of or thereceived image of the negotiable instrument such that the thumbnailimage resulting from the de-enhancing is, at least, one of a smallersize than the receive image of the negotiable instrument, a reduced filesize than the received image of the negotiable instrument, or a reducedimage quality than the received negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the system, the thumbnail image of the negotiableinstrument is generated in real-time or substantially real-time as theimage of the negotiable instrument is received or captured.

In some embodiments of the system, generating the second image of thenegotiable instrument comprises re-enhancing the thumbnail image of thenegotiable instrument by enlarging the thumbnail image to a sizesubstantially similar to an original size of the image of the receivednegotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the system, the negotiable instrument is a check,and wherein the images of the one or more elements of the negotiableinclude, at least, one of a Name, Address, Date, Check number, Payee,Check amount, Check amount line, Memo, Signature line, Routing andtransit number, and Checking account number located on the image of thecheck.

In some embodiments of the system, re-enhancing the thumbnail comprises,at least, integrating or adding to the enlarged thumbnail image theimage of the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments a computer-implemented method for capturing andstoring elements of a negotiable instrument for use in image recreationis provided that includes: (a) receive an image of the negotiableinstrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrument comprises oneor more elements that are used for processing the negotiable instrument;(b) capture, using the image capture device, images of one or moreelements of the negotiable instrument; (c) generate a thumbnail image ofthe negotiable instrument based at least partially on an image of thenegotiable instrument; and (d) store the images of the one or moreelements of the negotiable instrument and the thumbnail image of thenegotiable instrument in the database.

In some embodiments of the method, the computer processor is furtherexecuting computer-readable instruction code specifically configured tocause the computer processor to generate a second image of thenegotiable instrument using the images of the one or more elements ofthe negotiable instrument and the thumbnail image of the negotiableinstrument.

In some embodiments of the method, the generating the thumbnail image ofthe negotiable instrument comprises de-enhancing a copy of or thereceived image of the negotiable instrument such that the thumbnailimage resulting from the de-enhancing is, at least, one of a smallersize than the receive image of the negotiable instrument, a reduced filesize than the received image of the negotiable instrument, or a reducedimage quality than the received negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the method, the thumbnail image of the negotiableinstrument is generated in real-time or substantially real-time as theimage of the negotiable instrument is received or captured.

In some embodiments of the method, generating the second image of thenegotiable instrument comprises re-enhancing the thumbnail image of thenegotiable instrument by enlarging the thumbnail image to a sizesubstantially similar to an original size of the image of the receivednegotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the method, the negotiable instrument is a check,and wherein the images of the one or more elements of the negotiableinclude, at least, one of a Name, Address, Date, Check number, Payee,Check amount, Check amount line, Memo, Signature line, Routing andtransit number, and Checking account number located on the image of thecheck.

In some embodiments of the method, the generated second image of thenegotiable instrument comprises a first portion with a first imageresolution and a second portion with a second image resolution.

In some embodiments of the present invention a computer program productfor capturing and storing elements of a negotiable instrument for use inimage recreation is provided that includes a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readablemedium comprises one or more computer-executable program code portionsthat, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: (a) receive animage of the negotiable instrument, wherein the image of the negotiableinstrument comprises one or more elements that are used for processingthe negotiable instrument; (b) capture, using the image capture device,images of one or more elements of the negotiable instrument; (c)generate a thumbnail image of the negotiable instrument based at leastpartially on an image of the negotiable instrument; and (d) store theimages of the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument and thethumbnail image of the negotiable instrument in the database.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by thecomputer, cause the computer to generate a second image of thenegotiable instrument using the images of the one or more elements ofthe negotiable instrument and the thumbnail image of the negotiableinstrument.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by thecomputer, cause the computer to store the non-element portions of thenegotiable instrument in an image resolution lower than an imageresolution of the non-element portions of the negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the generating thethumbnail image of the negotiable instrument comprises de-enhancing acopy of or the received image of the negotiable instrument such that thethumbnail image resulting from the de-enhancing is, at least, one of asmaller size than the receive image of the negotiable instrument, areduced file size than the received image of the negotiable instrument,or a reduced image quality than the received negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the thumbnail imageof the negotiable instrument is generated in real-time or substantiallyreal-time as the image of the negotiable instrument is received orcaptured.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, generating thesecond image of the negotiable instrument comprises re-enhancing thethumbnail image of the negotiable instrument by enlarging the thumbnailimage to a size substantially similar to an original size of the imageof the received negotiable instrument.

In some embodiments of the computer program product, the negotiableinstrument is a check, and wherein the images of the one or moreelements of the negotiable include, at least, one of a Name, Address,Date, Check number, Payee, Check amount, Check amount line, Memo,Signature line, Routing and transit number, and Checking account numberlocated on the image of the check.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a general process flow for image recreation usingwhite space and images of check elements, in accordance with someembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an environment for implementingembodiments of the invention including the process flows describedherein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of check, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a datastore for storing check information, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an image of a check, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a more detailed process flow for image recreationusing white space and images of check elements, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative more detailed process flow for imagerecreation using white space and images of check elements, in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a detailed process flow for storing a thumbnail imageand elements of a check image for use in generating a check image, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all, embodiments of the present invention are shown. Indeed, thepresent invention may be embodied in many different forms and should notbe construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfyapplicable legal requirements. Also, it will be understood that, wherepossible, any of the advantages, features, and/or operational aspects ofany of the embodiments described and/or contemplated herein may beincluded in any other embodiment of the present invention describedand/or contemplated herein, and/or vice versa. In addition, wherepossible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein are meant toalso include the plural form and/or vice versa, unless explicitly statedotherwise. Accordingly, the terms “a” and/or “an” shall mean “one ormore,” even though the phrase “one or more” is also used herein. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout. Although the embodiments ofthe invention described herein are generally described as involving a“bank,” one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that otherembodiments of the invention may involve other financial institutions,or businesses outside of financial institutions, that utilize customerrepresentatives, call centers, or other comparable systems.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to check imaging technologywith a purpose of saving storage space in the archive associated with anentity (e.g., a financial institution). Currently, an entity's checkimaging system may receive an image of a check at a high resolution (200dots per inch (DPI)) and may store the image in the archive at thisresolution for a mandated period of time, which may be years. In manyinstances, the mandated period of time is seven years for financialinstitutions. However, regulations may not require that the archivedimage be of this high resolution. To save storage space in the archive,the present invention may capture pieces of the check information byprocessing the image of the check and then storing the various pieces ofthe check information as either text or smaller high resolution (or lowresolution) images. The pieces of check information may then beretrieved individually or in bulk by an apparatus to generate a secondimage of the check. Furthermore, the present invention may create athumbnail version of the image of the check at a lower resolution andstore said thumbnail version of the image of the check in the archivefor seven years in lieu of storing the high resolution image of thecheck. A check is an example of a document that may be captured orprocessed in this invention. As used herein, a “check” may also refer toa myriad of financial documents including, but not limited to, a leasedocument, a mortgage document, a deposit slip, a payment coupon, areceipt, any negotiable instrument or the like. In some embodiments, thecheck may exist as a physical item printed on paper or other medium. Inother embodiments, the check may exist electronically.

Referring now to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 presents a general process flow 100, inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention. At block 110, themethod comprises receiving an image of a check. In some embodiments, theimage of the check may be received by an apparatus (e.g. a computersystem) via a user's mobile device, a camera, an Automated TellerMachine (ATM) at one of the entity's facilities, a second apparatus at ateller's station, or the like. In other embodiments, the apparatus maybe configured to capture the image of the check using a type of imagecapture device, such as a camera. An example of an apparatus thatperforms block 110 is the user input system 240 in FIG. 2.

At block 120, the method comprises processing the image of the check tocollect check information. After the successful retrieval or capture ofthe image of the check, the apparatus may process the image of thecheck. The apparatus may capture individual pieces of check informationfrom the image of the check. In some embodiments, the check informationmay be text. In other embodiments, the check information may be animage. Further processing enables the apparatus to create a thumbnailversion (a resized smaller version) of the image of the check at a lowerresolution. In some embodiments, the thumbnail version of the image ofthe check may be created substantially simultaneously to the capture ofthe image of the check. An example of the apparatus that performs block120 is system 230 in FIG. 2.

At block 130, the method comprises storing the check information. Afterthe image of the check is processed, the apparatus may store thecollected check information. In some embodiments, the individual piecesof check information may be stored separately, and may be associatedwith each other via data or metadata. In some embodiments, theindividual pieces of check information may be stored together. In someembodiments, the apparatus may additionally store the original image ofthe check immediately after the image of the check is received. Becausethe original high resolution image of the check must be held in storagefor a 90 day period, the high resolution image of the check may bedeleted 90 days (or any time thereafter) following its capture. In someembodiments, the apparatus may additionally store the thumbnail versionof the image of the check. The entity may reserve the right to determinehow to process and/or how long to store the check information, image ofthe check, and/or the thumbnail version of the check. An example of theapparatus that performs block 130 is system 230 in FIG. 2.

At block 140, the method comprises generating a second image of thecheck, based on the check information. If the user wishes to view theimage of the check, the apparatus may generate a second image of thecheck based on the stored check information (text, images, or the like).In some embodiments, pieces of the check information may be requestedindividually. In these embodiments, pieces of the check information maybe delivered individually based on the user's request. For example, ifthe user wishes to view just the check number, the apparatus may deliverto the user just the check number, not the entire image of the check. Inother embodiments, multiple pieces of the check information may beretrieved. For example, if the user wishes to view an image of theentire check, the apparatus may retrieve multiple pieces of checkinformation and produce for the user an image of the check. In someembodiments, the generated image of the check may accurately present thestored check information on a standard template (e.g. a check with ablank or plain background). The entity may reserve the right todetermine the design or style of the template.

Referring now to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 presents an exemplary block diagram ofthe system environment 200 for implementing the process flow describedin FIG. 1 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Asillustrated, the system environment 200 includes a network 210, a system230, and a user input system 240. Also shown in FIG. 2 is a user 245 ofthe user input system 240. The user input system 240 may be a mobiledevice described herein. The user 245 may be a person who uses the userinput system 240 to execute a user application 247. The user application247 may be an application to communicate with the system 230, perform atransaction, input information onto a user interface presented on theuser input system 240, or the like. The user application 247 and/or thesystem application 237 may incorporate one or more parts of any processflow described herein.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system 230, and the user input system 240 areeach operatively and selectively connected to the network 210, which mayinclude one or more separate networks. In addition, the network 210 mayinclude a telecommunication network, local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN), and/or a global area network (GAN), such as theInternet. It will also be understood that the network 210 may be secureand/or unsecure and may also include wireless and/or wireline and/oroptical interconnection technology.

The user input system 240 may include any computerized apparatus thatcan be configured to perform any one or more of the functions of theuser input system 240 described and/or contemplated herein. For example,the user 245 may use the user input system 240 to transmit and/orreceive information or commands to and from the system 230. In someembodiments, for example, the user input system 240 may include apersonal computer system, a mobile computing device, a personal digitalassistant, a mobile phone, a tablet computing device, a network device,an ATM, a bank teller's equipment, and/or the like. As illustrated inFIG. 2, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention,the user input system 240 includes a communication interface 242, aprocessor 244, a memory 246 having an user application 247 storedtherein, and a user interface 249. In such embodiments, thecommunication interface 242 is operatively and selectively connected tothe processor 244, which is operatively and selectively connected to theuser interface 249 and the memory 246. In some embodiments, the user 245may use the user application 247 to execute processes described withrespect to the process flows described herein. Specifically, the userapplication 247 executes the process flow described in FIG. 1, as wellas any other process flow described herein.

Each communication interface described herein, including thecommunication interface 242, generally includes hardware, and, in someinstances, software, that enables the user input system 240, totransport, send, receive, and/or otherwise communicate information toand/or from the communication interface of one or more other systems onthe network 210. For example, the communication interface 242 of theuser input system 240 may include a wireless transceiver, modem, server,electrical connection, and/or other electronic device that operativelyconnects the user input system 240 to another system such as the system230. The wireless transceiver may include a radio circuit to enablewireless transmission and reception of information. Additionally, theuser input system 240 may include a positioning system. The positioningsystem (e.g., a global positing system GPS) may enable at least one ofthe user input system 240 or an external server or computing device incommunication with the user input system 240 to determine the location(e.g., location coordinates) of the user input system 240.

Each processor described herein, including the processor 244, generallyincludes circuitry for implementing the audio, visual, and/or logicfunctions of the user input system 240. For example, the processor mayinclude a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, andvarious analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, andother support circuits. Control and signal processing functions of thesystem in which the processor resides may be allocated between thesedevices according to their respective capabilities. The processor mayalso include functionality to operate one or more software programsbased at least partially on computer-executable program code portionsthereof, which may be stored, for example, in a memory device, such asin the user application 247 of the memory 246 of the user input system240.

Each memory device described herein, including the memory 246 forstoring the user application 247 and other information, may include anycomputer-readable medium. For example, memory may include volatilememory, such as volatile random access memory (RAM) having a cache areafor the temporary storage of information. Memory may also includenon-volatile memory, which may be embedded and/or may be removable. Thenon-volatile memory may additionally or alternatively include an EEPROM,flash memory, and/or the like. The memory may store any one or more ofpieces of information and data used by the system in which it resides toimplement the functions of that system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the memory 246 includes the user application 247. Insome embodiments, the user application 247 includes an interface forcommunicating with, navigating, controlling, configuring, and/or usingthe user input system 240. In some embodiments, the user application 247includes computer-executable program code portions for instructing theprocessor 244 to perform one or more of the functions of the userapplication 247 described and/or contemplated herein. In someembodiments, the user application 247 may include and/or use one or morenetwork and/or system communication protocols. In some embodiments, theuser application 247 may be associated with a mobile device, wherein themobile device executes a check deposit application. In some embodiments,the user application 247 may be associated with an ATM at one of theentity's facilities. Thus, the ATM may include a check imaging systemwherein the check imaging system captures an image of the check.Following successful capture of the image of the check, the ATM maytransmit the image to the system 230 for processing, storage, generationof an image of the check, or the like. In other embodiments, the userapplication 247 may interact with a bank teller, his equipment, a kioskin the entity's facility, or the like associated with the entity.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is the user interface 249. In some embodiments, theuser interface 249 includes one or more output devices, such as adisplay and/or speaker, for presenting information to the user 245. Insome embodiments, the user interface 249 includes one or more inputdevices, such as one or more buttons, keys, dials, levers, directionalpads, joysticks, accelerometers, controllers, microphones, touchpads,touchscreens, haptic interfaces, microphones, scanners, motiondetectors, cameras, and/or the like for receiving information from theuser 245. In some embodiments, the user interface 249 includes the inputand display devices of a mobile device, which are operable to receiveand display information.

FIG. 2 also illustrates a system 230, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. The system 230 may include any computerizedapparatus that can be configured to perform any one or more of thefunctions of the system 230 described and/or contemplated herein. Inaccordance with some embodiments, for example, the system 230 mayinclude a computer network, an engine, a platform, a server, a databasesystem, a front end system, a back end system, a personal computersystem, and/or the like. Therefore, the system 230 may be a servermanaged by the entity. The system 230 may be located at the facilityassociated with the entity or remotely from the facility associated withthe entity. In some embodiments, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 2,the system 230 includes a communication interface 232, a processor 234,and a memory 236, which includes a system application 237 and adatastore 238 stored therein. As shown, the communication interface 232is operatively and selectively connected to the processor 234, which isoperatively and selectively connected to the memory 236.

It will be understood that the system application 237 may be configuredto implement any one or more portions of the various user interfacesand/or process flow described herein. The system application 237 mayinteract with the user application 247. It will also be understood that,in some embodiments, the memory includes other applications. It willalso be understood that, in some embodiments, the system application 237is configured to communicate with the datastore 238, the user inputsystem 240, or the like.

It will be further understood that, in some embodiments, the systemapplication 237 includes computer-executable program code portions forinstructing the processor 234 to perform any one or more of thefunctions of the system application 237 described and/or contemplatedherein. In some embodiments, the system application 237 may includeand/or use one or more network and/or system communication protocols. Insome embodiments, the system application 237 may include the processingof the image of Check 1 300 from which the system 230 may collect checkinformation.

In addition to the system application 237, the memory 236 also includesthe datastore 238. As used herein, the datastore 238 may be one or moredistinct and/or remote datastores. In some embodiments, the datastore238 is not located within the system and is instead located remotelyfrom the system. In some embodiments, the datastore 238 storesinformation or data described herein. For example, the datastore 238 maystore information associated with the user's account, check information,or the like. Further, the datastore 238 may comprise an archive,temporary storage locations, or the like.

It will be understood that the datastore 238 may include any one or morestorage devices, including, but not limited to, datastores, databases,and/or any of the other storage devices typically associated with acomputer system. It will also be understood that the datastore 238 maystore information in any known way, such as, for example, by using oneor more computer codes and/or languages, alphanumeric character strings,data sets, figures, tables, charts, links, documents, and/or the like.Further, in some embodiments, the datastore 238 may include informationassociated with one or more applications, such as, for example, thesystem application 237. It will also be understood that, in someembodiments, the datastore 238 provides a substantially real-timerepresentation of the information stored therein, so that, for example,when the processor 234 accesses the datastore 238, the informationstored therein is current or substantially current. FIG. 4 expresses thedatastore 238 and its contents in more detail.

FIG. 2 also shows two check images that interact with the systemenvironment 200. The image of Check 1 300 may be the image of the checkthat is received by the user input system 240. The user input system 240may collect the check information from the image of Check 1 300. Theimage of Check 2 500 may be the image of the check that is generated bythe system 230. The image of Check 2 500 may be generated based on thecheck information stored in the datastore 238. Both images of Check 1300 and Check 2 500 may include an image of the entire check, athumbnail version of the image of the check, individual pieces of checkinformation, or the like.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the system environmentillustrated in FIG. 2 is exemplary and that other embodiments may vary.As another example, in some embodiments, the system 230 includes more,less, or different components. As another example, in some embodiments,some or all of the portions of the system environment 200 may becombined into a single portion. Likewise, in some embodiments, some orall of the portions of the system 230 may be separated into two or moredistinct portions.

In addition, the various portions of the system environment 200 may bemaintained for and/or by the same or separate parties. It will also beunderstood that the system 230 may include and/or implement anyembodiment of the present invention described and/or contemplatedherein. For example, in some embodiments, the system 230 is configuredto implement any one or more of the embodiments of the process flowsdescribed and/or contemplated herein in connection any process flowdescribed herein. Additionally, the system 230 or the user input system240 is configured to initiate presentation of any of the user interfacesdescribed herein. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, theterm “module” with respect to a system may refer to a hardware componentof the system, a software component of the system, or a component of thesystem that includes both hardware and software. As used herein, amodule may include one or more modules, where each module may reside inseparate pieces of hardware or software. As used herein, an apparatusmay refer to at least one of the user input system 240 or the system230.

Now referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary image of Check1 300, the image of the check received by the user input system 240. Theimage of Check 1 300 may comprise an image of the entire check, athumbnail version of the image of the check, individual pieces of checkinformation, or the like. Check 1 300 comprises check information,wherein the check information comprises contact information 305, thepayee 310, the memo description 315, the account number and routingnumber 320 associated with the appropriate user or customer account, thedate 325, the check number 330, the amount of the check 335, thesignature 340, or the like. In some embodiments, the check informationmay comprise text. In other embodiments, the check information maycomprise an image. The user input system 240 may capture an image ofCheck 1 300 and transmit the image to the system 230 via a network. Thesystem 230 may collect the check information from the image of Check 1300 and store the check information in the datastore 238. In someembodiments, the pieces of check information may be stored in thedatastore 238 individually. In other embodiments, multiple pieces ofcheck information may be stored in the datastore 238 together. In someembodiments, the pieces of check information may be stored in thedatastore 238 immediately following the capture of the image of Check 1300. In other embodiments, the pieces of check information may be storedin the datastore 238 at a predetermined point in time after the image ofCheck 1 300 has been captured. The entity may reserve the right todetermine the point in time in which the check information is stored inthe datastore 238. In some embodiments, the check information may becaptured or stored in the datastore 238 at a lower resolution than theoriginal image of the check. In other embodiments, the check informationmay be captured or stored in the datastore 238 at a higher resolutionthan the original image of the check. In some embodiments, the checkinformation may be captured or stored in the datastore 238 at a reducedsize. In other embodiments, the check information may be captured orstored in the datastore 238 at an increased size.

Now referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the datastore238. The system 230 may store the pieces of check information of theprocessed check in one or more datastores 238. In some embodiments, adatastore 238 may comprise at least one element of check information formultiple checks. For example, a datastore 238 may include check numbers(or payee names, check amounts, check dates, signatures, or the like)for multiple checks. In other embodiments, multiple checks may share asingle datastore 238 for the storage of their check information. Items410, 420, 430, and 440 represent categories of check information in thedatastore 238. For example, categories of check information may includebut are not limited to the check number, the payee, the amount of thecheck, the memo description, the contact information, the date, thesignature, the account number and routing number, or the like. Further,associated pieces of check information for a single check may be linkedwith one another using data or metadata. For example, check number 0001and payee name 0001 may be associated with each other for ease ofaccess.

Referring now to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 illustrates the image of Check 2 500.The image of Check 2 500 comprises an image of the entire check, athumbnail version of the image of the check, individual pieces of checkinformation, or the like. The system 230 may retrieve the pieces ofcheck information to generate a new image of Check 2 500. In someembodiments, the retrieved pieces of check information may be presentedin the image of Check 2 500 at a lower resolution than the originalimage of the check. In other embodiments, the check information may bepresented in the image of Check 2 500 at a higher resolution than theoriginal image of the check. In some embodiments, the check informationmay be presented in the image of Check 2 500 at a reduced size. In otherembodiments, the check information may be presented in the image ofCheck 2 500 at an increased size. Check 2 500 may comprise checkinformation, wherein the check information may comprise contactinformation 505, the payee 510, the memo description 515, the accountnumber and routing number 520 associated with the appropriate user orcustomer account, the date 525, the check number 530, the amount of thecheck 535, the signature 540, or the like.

Check Imaging Bifurcation/Separation

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems forcapturing in one or more images the content or information representedon a negotiable instrument, such as a check and storing those images.Images of portions or individual pieces of the check without content orinformation are also captured and stored, albeit in some instances adifferent format having a lesser image quality. For example, in someembodiments of the present invention, a user will deposit a check intoan automated teller machine (ATM), the ATM, using this invention, willcapture images of the portions of the check that have informationrelating to the amount of the check, the names of the payor/payee, dateof the check, MICR of the check, or in some instances, some of thedesign elements of the check. Thus producing several smaller images ofonly the portions of the check having relevant information. The systemor ATM will then designate the remaining portions of the check nothaving content or information as white space elements. Accordingly,these white space portions of the check may include any area of thecheck without written, textual, visual, numerical, or coded data that isused in some manner to indicate information on a check. The portions ofthe check that the ATM determines does not have content or informationare also imaged and stored as white space or in a format with lesserimage quality and/or a format that would generally result in an imagefile with a smaller data footprint. Thus, at least, one advantage of thepresent invention is that it allows a bank or other financialinstitution that receives checks or any negotiable instruments fordeposit and the like to capture, as high quality images, only thoseelements of the check that are important for processing or potentiallynecessary recreating the check and capturing, as low quality images, theremaining elements of the check that are not vital for either processingor recreating the check. As a result, this invention saves on the amountof storage space required to store the images from a check.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a more detailed process flow 600 diagram isprovided for image recreation using white space and check elementcapture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Insome embodiments, the process flow 600 is performed, in combination, bya mobile device (i.e., one or more mobile devices) and an ATM (i.e., oneor more ATMs), where each has hardware and/or software configured toperformed one or more portions of the process flows 600 and 700. It willbe understood that, in some embodiments, a single ATM or a single mobileis configured to perform all of the steps of process flow 600 or anyother process flow or feature of the invention described herein. In suchembodiments, as represented by block 610, a system using process flow600 receives a negotiable instrument (e.g., a check). As represented byblock 620, the system executing process flow 600 captures images of thecheck. As represented by block 630, the system executing process flow600 stores the captured images of the check. As represented by block640, the system executing process flow 600 generates a second checkimage based at least partially on the check images and checkinformation.

Regarding block 610, the system executing process flow 600 is an ATM. Insuch an embodiment, the ATM is configured to receive one or morenegotiable instruments. As an example, a user who wants to deposit acombination of a payroll check and several personal checks may approachthe ATM machine and deliver to some receiving portion of the ATM thephysical check documents. At which time, the ATM machine would receivethe check documents from the user. In some embodiments, the systemexecuting process flow 600 is a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, asmart phone, and the like), where the mobile device receives the one ormore physical check documents. In such an instance, the mobile devicereceives the physical check documents by capturing images of the checkdocuments. Alternatively, the mobile device may also receive the checkdocuments via a short-range wireless non-contact system that usesradio-frequency electromagnetic fields, wireless internet, Bluetooth, orany other short-range technologies for transferring the data from thechecks to a storage device associated with the mobile device. Forexample, a user using a mobile device may receive a check bycommunicating with an RFID chip located in some portion of a check thatcommunicates all of the details and features of the check. Similarly, auser using a mobile device may receive a check by communicating withanother mobile device with the check information thereon.

Still regarding block 610, the system executing process flow 600receives a check electronically. In such an embodiment, the systemelectronically receives an image of a check. In some embodiments, thesystem electronically receives check information from a physical orelectronic check. An embodiment of the invention for receiving a checkis described above in connection with a mobile device. In some analternative embodiments, the systems executing process flow 600 are amobile device in combination with an ATM. In such an embodiment, a userof a mobile device may be able to communicate electronically overwireless internet or wireline communication. The mobile device, in suchan instance, may have a check stored in a storage device associated withthe mobile device (e.g., memory device of the mobile device). The mobiledevice, in some embodiments, can electronically transfer the informationrelated to the check directly to the ATM machine for deposit, usingwireless or wireline technology. For example, a user may have a checkstored on the memory of his mobile device that he wants to deposit. Insuch an example, the user may approach an ATM or remotely access an ATMin order to electronically send the check to the ATM. In such aninstance, the ATM would receive the check upon the completion of thetransfer of the check information from the mobile device. It will beunderstood that the electronic transfer of check information can occurwith any combination of systems or by one computing system, alone.

Regarding block 620, the system executing process flow 600 is an ATM. Insuch an instance, the ATM, using a capture device, is configured tocapture images of the check. The capture device may be any devicecapable of capturing an image, including but not limited, to a camera, adigital camera, fax machine, digital scanner, and the like. The capturedevice may be configured to capture, as images, elements of the check.In some embodiments, the system may first use a processing device tobifurcate the check into at least two different types of elements. Thebifurcation process may be done electronically, where the ATM firstplaces a digital overlay over the areas of the check, where the digitaloverlay comprises portions of the check with content or usefulinformation enclosed with some type of perimeter and the other portionsof the check are not enclosed in a perimeter. Alternatively, the systemmay differentiate the portions of the check without content or usefulinformation by creating a pattern on the overlay surrounding theperimeters enclosing the portions of the check with content or usefulinformation. Further alternatively, the pattern on the overlay fordistinguishing areas without content or useful information may be placedon the overlay of the check such that it forms the perimeterssurrounding the content or useful information on the check, withouthaving to separately create a perimeter around the content or usefulinformation on the check. The perimeters surrounding the content oruseful information on the checks may be in any shape, form, or size(e.g., circular, rectangular, non-circular, or non-rectangular, oddshaped, and the like). Once the system bifurcates the portions of thecheck into, at least, these two elements the ATM may then capture theimages of each type of element separately. Alternatively, the systemexecuting process flow 600 may capture each element separately,irrespective, of whether the element is of a useful information-type ora non-useful information-type of element. In such an embodiment, thesystem may separate the elements based on whether it is of a usefulinformation-type or a non-useful information-type and store them assuch. For clarification, in some embodiments, once the system bifurcatesand/or differentiates the check elements types, the system extractsthese elements from a check image and proceeds to store the check imageelements separately, according to check image type. It will beunderstood that although the term bifurcate is used to describe theprocess of differentiating useful check elements and non-useful elementsfor check image capture, the term, in some instances, should not belimited to differentiating or the splitting/separation of just twoelements but the differentiating process may be of more than twoelements. As an example, the system may bifurcate using the overlaysystem a check into three elements including handwritten/user inputtedportions, standard check elements portion (e.g., MICR number, username/address information, pay to line, and the like), and a non-usefulinformation portion (e.g., parts of the check without information, text,or content, and the like). In some embodiments, the standard checkelements portions and the non-useful information portions may becombined. For clarification, useful check elements may include, but isnot limited to, any of the handwritten portions of the check, anyinformation inputted on the check by the payor or payee of the check,pre-existing check elements that relate to standard features orinformation on a check (e.g., Name and address of the account holderassociated with the check, check number, a labeled or designated portionfor inserting a date (e.g., “Date _(——————)”), Payee section (e.g., “Payto the Order of” section), check amount box (e.g., “$ _(——————)”), checkamount line (e.g., check portion for handwriting the check amount), amemo portion for indicating the purpose of the check (e.g., “Memo_(——————)”), a signature line portion for endorsing the checkinstrument, a routing and/or transit number portion, an account numberportion, any other elements on a check that contains information foridentifying the check, and the like.). For further clarification, thenon-useful check elements may include, but is not limited to, anyelements of a check without written or numerical information, anyelements of the check without coded information (e.g., watermarks, MICR,and the like), the background of the check, the design elements of thecheck, and the like.

Further regarding block 620, in some embodiments, the system isconfigured to reduce or remove the non-data elements from the checkimage and store the remaining elements of the check image as dataelements. These remaining data elements may be stored together and/orseparately. When the data elements are stored separately, the system isconfigured to tag the elements with metadata that relates the elementsto each other using various forms of information relating to the check,transaction involving the check, and/or account associated with thecheck. For example, in some embodiments, when images of the payee nameand images of the check amount are stored separately, the system mayrelate or tie together the images by tagging or appending to the checkimages a transaction identifier such that a person who identifies acertain transaction identifier can easily retrieve the check elementsassociated with the transaction. The process involving the reduction orremoval of non-data elements may also be referred to herein as“white-space reduction” because the system is configured to determinethe white space elements of the check and eliminate or substantiallyreduce those portions of the check image so that only the remainingnon-white and data having portions of the check can be stored.

In some embodiments, the system is configured to capture data elementsfrom a check image using heuristics. The heuristics may be related toexperience-based learning by the system of the location, type of checkelements, and availability of data elements on a check image. Theheuristics are used as a short cut for determining which elements ordata elements on a check that should be capture and eventually storedfor check recreation. The heuristics may be embodied in rules that areapplied by the system for determining the approximate location anddetermining which of the data elements of a check that should becaptured. The system, in some embodiments, is configured to useheuristics in addition to any other technique described herein toprocess quickly the data and non-data elements of a check.

In yet another embodiment, the system uses the magnetic ink characterrecognition (MICR) to determine the position of non-data and dataelements on a check image. For example, the MICR of a check may indicateto the system that the received or captured check image is a businesscheck with certain dimensions and also, detailing the location of dataelements, such as the check amount box or Payee line. In such aninstance, once the positions of this information is made available tothe system, the system will know to capture any data elements to theright or to the left of the identified locations or include theidentified data element in the capture. This system may choose tocapture the data elements of a check in any manner using the informationdetermined from the MICR number of the check.

Now regarding block 630, once the system executing process flow 600 hasbifurcated the check image elements into, at least, two check imageelement types, a first check image element type being of the usefulcheck element-type and the second check image element type being of thenon-useful check image element type, the system stores the check imageelement types in a storage device and/or archive. In such an embodiment,the system executing process flow 600 may be a bank server. In someembodiments, the bank server stores the images of the check comprisinguseful check information in a higher image quality than the images ofthe check comprising non-useful check information. For example, the bankserver may capture as useful check images the check amount, payee name,and MICR of a check and may capture as non-useful check images thebackground of the check which does not contain any information used incheck processing and settlement. The bank server will then store in anarchive the useful check images including the check amount, payee name,and MICR in a high image resolution (e.g., high DPI, high pixels, andthe like) and alternatively, save the non-useful check images of thebackground of the check in a low image resolution (e.g., low DPI, lowpixels, and the like). Thus, the results of saving the useful andnon-useful check images in this manner are that the useful check imagesused in processing and the settlement of the check are stored with moredetail and having a larger data footprint, whereas the non-useful checkimages containing information not used in check processing andsettlement are stored with less detail and having a smaller datafootprint. In some embodiments, the useful check images in high imageresolution and the non-useful check images in low resolution are storedin the same location. In other embodiments, the useful check images inhigh image resolution and the non-useful check images in low resolutionare stored in different locations. In some embodiments, each of thecheck images of the useful and non-useful type are appended or taggedwith meta data or other information indicating the check image type,image resolution information, various information identifying the checkimage, and/or the like. Such that a processing system easily process,store, associate the check images, and/or retrieve the check imageinformation for later use.

In some embodiments, the system is configured to store the useful dataelements of a check in differing resolutions based on the relativesignificance or importance of the data element. For example, in someembodiments, the system may capture for storage data elements from acheck including the check date, the signature, and the check amount. Insuch an example, of these captured data elements the check amount isrelatively more significant than the check data and check amountelements and thus stored at a higher resolution. It will be understoodthat the relative significance of the capture data elements of a checkmay vary and as such, the system may determine the relative significanceof certain elements based on rules relating to the hierarchicalsignificance of data elements of a check.

Regarding block 640, the system executing process flow 600 generates asecond check image based at least partially on the check images andcheck information. In such an embodiment, the system executing processflow 600 may be a combination of a financial institution server and auser computer referred to herein as a check image generation system.Upon receiving a request from a user regarding the retrieval a check,the check image generation system searches the archives for check imagesand check information associated with the check in the user request. Insome embodiments, the user is a customer, using an online bankinginterface banking application on a customer terminal or computing deviceuseable for displaying the resulting second check image. The checkgeneration system then generates a check image using the useful checkimage elements and the non-useful check image elements, such that theresulting check image comprising, at least, check image elements with afirst resolution (e.g., high resolution) and check image elements with asecond resolution (e.g., low resolution). More particularly, in someembodiments, the check generation system generates a check image byintegrating the useful check image elements and a version of thenon-useful check image elements into one new check image.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative more detailed process flow 700is provided for image recreation using white space and check elementcapture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Asrepresented by block 710, a system executing process flow 700 receivesan image of a check. As represented by block 720, the system executingprocess flow 700 captures portions of the image of the check. Asrepresented by block 730, the system executing process flow 700 storesthe captured portions of the image of the check. As represented by block740, the system executing process flow 700 generates a new check imageusing white space and check image portions captured from the image ofthe check.

Regarding block 710, block 710 of process flow 700 is substantiallysimilar to block 610 of process flow 600, but in block 710 the systemexecuting the process flow 700 receives an image of a check for initialprocess of check information, whereas in block 610 the system isreceiving a physical check for processing.

Regarding block 720, the system executing process flow 700 capturesportions of the image of the check by separating the portions and/orelements of the image of the check into quadrants. As referred toherein, the term quadrant is used broadly to describe the process ofdifferentiating elements of a check image by separating portions and/orelements of the image of the check into sectors. These sectors may beidentified using a two-dimensional coordinate system or any other systemthat can be used for determining the location of the sectors. In manyinstances, each sector will be rectangular in shape. In someembodiments, the system identifies each portion of the image of thecheck using a plurality of quadrants. In such an embodiment, the systemmay further analyze each quadrant using character and/or datarecognition software in order to determine whether each quadrant hasvaluable or useful information. Generally, valuable or usefulinformation may relate to any data or information that may be used forprocessing and/or settlement of the check, used for identifying thecheck, and the like. Once the system determines the quadrants of theimage of the check having valuable and/or useful information, the systemcan extract the identified quadrants together with the information fromthe image of the check for storage. The quadrants may be extracted inthe form of an image of the contents of the quadrant, as textrepresenting the contents of the quadrant, as code representing thecontents of the quadrant, and the like. In some embodiments, thequadrants of the image of the check that are not identified as havingvaluable and/or useful information are not extracted from the image. Itwill be understood that quadrants may be used to capture images ofportions of a physical check, as well as from an image of a check.

Still regarding block 720, in some embodiments, the system determinesthe valuable and/or useful elements of the check image and appliesquadrants to only those elements of the check image. In this way, thesystem can readily identify which elements of the image of the check tocapture, as images, and which elements of the check that should bestored as white space.

Yet still regarding block 720, in some embodiments, the system uses agrid system to identify non-data and data elements of a check image. Thegrid system may be similar to the quadrant system. Using the gridsystem, the system identifies the position of each grid element using acoordinate system (e.g., x and y coordinates or x, y, and z coordinatesystem or the like) or similar system for identifying the spatiallocation of a grid element on a check. In practice, the spatial locationof a grid element may be appended to or some manner related to gridelements with check data. For example, using the grid, the system mayidentify which grid elements of the grid contain data elements, such ascheck amount and payee name, and either at the time of image capture orextraction of the check image within the grid, the system can tag thegrid element having the check data element with the grid element'sspatial location. As such, upon recreation of the check, the system caneasily determine the location to place the data element on the recreatedcheck image.

Yet still in some embodiments, the may capture data elements from acheck or check image using a pixel differentiation technique. Forexample, in combination with the grid technique, the system may analyzethe image within the grid in order to determine if a data element existswithin that grid by determining whether there is substantial pixeldifferentiation between portions of the image within the grid. In suchan instance, if the image within the grid is just of one color withsubstantially similar pixels, the system will indicate that there is nodata in the grid and will therefore, not capture the image within thegrid for storage. In the instances, where there is substantial pixeldifferentiation the system may indicate that there is at least one dataelement within the grid and subsequently capture the data element foradditional analysis and/or storage. Character recognition, patternrecognition, design recognition, and/or any other type of datarecognition software may be used to determine data elements on a check.

In some embodiments, the system may only capture certain data elementsand not all data elements on the check based on experience-basedlearning. The system, in some embodiments, may only capture elements ofa check it does not already have in its database. For example, in someembodiments, the system processes multiple checks for one customer andin such an example, the system may have already stored an image of theaddress information of the consumer. Therefore, in such instances, thesystem avoid capturing an image of the address data element of the checkimage for storage but instead, tag/append data or metadata to the checkinformation that points to a previously stored image of the consumer'saddress information. Thus, upon recreation of the check, the system mayreference a data table that either includes the previously storedaddress information or further directs the system to the previouslystored data element of the check.

In some embodiments, the system maps the positions of the data elementsof the check for image capture. Using this mapping technique, the systemmay identify all the data elements of the check on a diagram or aplurality of diagrams, where the diagram(s) show the position of eachdata element on the check. This mapping technique can be used alone orin combination in the recreation of a check image that includes imagesof the data elements or check element images from the original check.

Regarding block 730, in some embodiments, the system executing processflow 700 stores the quadrants with valuable and/or useful information,as images, and stores the quadrant not having valuable and/or usefulinformation, as white space. In such an embodiment, the quadrants storedas images are stored with a higher image quality and/or resolution thanthe quadrants saved as white space. In this way, the only the importantquadrants are saved with high image quality and/or resolution in orderto reduce the amount of storage space required for saving checkinformation.

Regarding block 740, in an embodiment of the invention, upon request bya user, the system executing process flow 700 generates a check imagebased at least partially on the quadrants with valuable and/or usefulcheck information. Based on the request, the system locates checkinformation related to the request, the check information including thequadrants of valuable and/or useful information stored, as images, andthe other quadrants, stored as white space. Upon locating thisinformation the system integrates the quadrants having the valuable oruseful information and the quadrants stored as white space to form a newcheck image that is substantially similar to the original/standard imageof the check from which the quadrants of check images and informationderive. As a result, the user is presented with a check image thatresembles the original check deposited or provided to the system.

Thumbnail Check Images

In general terms, some embodiments of the present invention relate tomethods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products forcreating a thumbnail of a check image and capturing elements of thecheck image such that the thumbnail of the check image together with thecapture elements of a check may be used in recreating a standard sizeimage of the check. The thumbnail of the check image, in someembodiments, is a small graphics file created from a standard/normalsize image of a check or simply stated, the thumbnail of the check imageis a smaller image and version of the standard image of the check.Accordingly, the thumbnail is a smaller electronic file than theelectronic file of the standard check image. As an example, in someembodiments of the present invention, a user will deposit a check intoan automated teller machine (ATM) or any other banking system, the ATM,using the invention captures the image of the check, in real-time orsubstantially real-time, and also creates a thumbnail of the capturedcheck image. In addition, the ATM will capture, in a normal size,important elements of the check necessary for the processing andsettlement of the check, such as the payee name, check routing andaccount number, check amount, check number, check date, the handwrittenor inputted check amount, and the like. At a later time, following thedeposit, the user may request a copy or image of the deposited check.The system using the present invention, may then generate a standardsize image of a check by enlarging the thumbnail image of the originalcheck image and optionally, enhancing the portions of the enlargedthumbnail image of the original check with the standard sized checkelements captured from the original check image. Thus, at least, twoadvantages of the present invention include protecting againstmisappropriation of check information by allowing for customerverification and a reduction in the amount of storage space necessaryfor saving check images.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a general process flow 800 is provided forstoring a thumbnail and elements of a check image for use in generatinga another check image. In some embodiments, process flow 800 isperformed, in combination, by a bank system, such as an ATM, and a bankor customer computing terminal, where each has hardware and/or softwareconfigured to perform one or more portions of the process flows 800 and900. It will be understood that, in some embodiments, a single banksystem or customer computing terminal is configured to perform all ofthe steps of process flows 800 and 900 or any other process flow orfeature of the invention described herein. As represented by block 810,a system executing process flow 800, receives a physical check. In analternative embodiment, the system receives an image of a check. Asrepresented by block 820, the system executing process flow 800generates a thumbnail image of the check. As represented by block 830,the system executing process flow 800 captures, as images, one or moreelements of the check. As represented by block 840, the system executingprocess flow 800 stores the thumbnail image of the check and the imagesof the one or more elements of the check. As represented by block 850,the system executing process flow 800 generates a new image of a checkusing images of the one or more elements of the check and based at leastpartially on the thumbnail image of the original check.

Regarding block 810, the system executing process flow 800 is an ATM. Insuch an embodiment, the ATM is configured to receive one or morenegotiable instruments or checks. As an example, a user who may want todeposit a payroll check may approach the ATM machine and deliver to somereceiving portion of the ATM the physical payroll check document. Atwhich time, the ATM machine would receive the check document from theuser. In some embodiments, the system executing process flow 800 is amobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, a smart phone, and the like), wherethe mobile device receives the payroll check document. In such aninstance, the mobile device receives the physical check document by,using a capture device (e.g., a camera, video recorder, and the like),to capture one or more images of the payroll check document.

Still regarding block 810, the system executing process flow 800receives a check electronically. In such an embodiment, the systemelectronically receives an image of a check. In some embodiments, thesystem electronically receives check information from a physical orelectronic check.

Regarding block 820, in some embodiments, the standard/original image ofthe check, as received, is de-enhanced such that the resulting image is,at least, one of a smaller size than the original/standard check image,has a reduce graphic file size than the original/standard image of thecheck, and/or has a reduced image quality and/or resolution that theoriginal/standard image of the check. Thus, a thumbnail image of thecheck generated by the system may have a smaller file size originalcheck image, as received, and also has a reduced image quality than thecheck or check image. Thus, the thumbnail of the image of the check alsohas a reduced graphic file size. For example, the standard image of thecheck as captured may have physical dimensions of 2.5 inches in heightby 6 inches in width and a 200 DPI resolution and a graphic file size of500 kilobytes. In such an example, the thumbnail of the image generatedfrom the standard image of the check may result in a check image withmeasured dimensions of 0.625 inches in height by 1.5 inches in width, a40 DPI, and a graphic file size of 100 kilobytes. As can be gleaned fromthe example, the thumbnail of the image is physically smaller, of alesser quality, and has a file size smaller than the original image ofthe check, as received. In some embodiments, the system is configured togenerate a thumbnail image of the standard image of the check, asreceived, which is exactly proportional to the originalphysical/measured size, DPI resolution, and/or graphic file size of theimage of the check. Thus, the system can be configured such that thethumbnail image of the check is a size that is a factor of the originalsize. For example, the system may be set to thumbnail factor of 3indicating that the generated thumbnail image of the check should bethree times smaller in dimensions, DPI, and/or file size. In anotherexample, the system may be set to a thumbnail factor of ⅓ such that whena thumbnail image of a check is created the thumbnail image hasdimensions, DPI resolution, and/or a file size that is ⅓ of thedimensions, DPI resolution, and/or file size of the original/standardsize image of the check. It will be understood that the factor settingscan be any type of settings, so long as the type of settingproportionally affects a size, dimension, and/or feature thumbnail imageof a check when compared to the original/standard size of the checkimage. It will further be understood that the thumbnail image does nothave to be proportionally reduced in all features, dimensions, orproportionally reduced at all when compared to the original/standardsize of the check image. It will be understood that the measure of imagequality may be any measure including, but not limited to, DPI, pixels,samples per inch, lines per inch, metric typography units, displayresolution, mouse dpi, twip, and the like.

Still regarding block 820, the system executing process flow generates athumbnail image of the check substantially contemporaneous with thegeneration of the standard/original image of the check. Thus, in someembodiments, the thumbnail image is generated in real-time orsubstantially real-time, as the check image is captured, or some timeimmediately thereafter. In some embodiments, the thumbnail image of thecheck is generated from the original/standard size image of the check.In other embodiments, the thumbnail image is generated from a separateimage of the check.

Regarding block 830, in some embodiments, because the original image ofthe check is de-enhanced/un-enhanced in order to create a thumbnailimage of the check, once the thumbnail is enlarged to a standard checkimage size, some of the features and elements of the check are of areduced and sometimes a substantially reduced image quality. Thus, insome embodiments, when generating a new check image from the thumbnailimage of a check, the enlarged thumbnail image of the check must beenhanced with original/standard size images of elements of the checksuch that a user who requests the check can clearly distinguish theimportant elements of the check. As described in block 830, theseimportant elements of the check are captured as one or more images and,in some embodiments, texts, from the original check or original/standardsize image of the check. These important elements of the check generallyinclude check information relating to features and elements of the checknecessary for the processing of the check and/or required for checksettlement, such as, but not limited to, payee name, check amount,routing and account numbers, check date, handwritten/inputted checkamount, and the like. The important check elements are captured in sucha way that only the textual or content information of the elements andpotentially some of the areas immediately surrounding the importantelements of the check are in an image.

Further regarding block 830, the system executing process flow 800 is anATM. In such an instance, the ATM, using a capture device, is configuredto capture images of the check. The capture device may be any devicecapable of capturing an image, including but not limited, to a camera, adigital camera, video camera, fax machine, digital scanner, and thelike. The capture device may be configured to capture, as images,elements of the check. In some embodiments, the system may first use aprocessing device to bifurcate the check into at least two differenttypes of elements. The bifurcation process may be done electronically,where the ATM first places a digital overlay over the areas of thecheck, where the digital overlay comprises portions of the check withcontent or useful information enclosed with a type of perimeter and theother portions of the check are not enclosed in a perimeter.Alternatively, the system may differentiate the portions of the checkwithout content or useful information by creating a pattern on theoverlay surrounding the perimeters enclosing the portions of the checkwith content or useful information. Further alternatively, the patternon the overlay for distinguishing areas without content or usefulinformation may be placed on the overlay of the check such that it formsthe perimeters surrounding the content or useful information on thecheck, without having to separately create a perimeter around thecontent or useful information on the check. The perimeters surroundingthe content or useful information on the checks may be in any shape,form, or size (e.g., circular, rectangular, non-circular, ornon-rectangular, odd shaped, and the like). Once the system bifurcatesthe portions of the check into, at least, these two elements the ATM maythen capture the images of each type of check element separately.Alternatively, the system executing process flow 800 may capture eachelement separately, irrespective, of whether the element is of a usefulinformation-type or a non-useful information-type of element. In such anembodiment, the system may separate the elements based on whether it isof a useful information-type or a non-useful information-type and storethem as such. As an example, the system may bifurcate using the overlaysystem a check into three elements including handwritten/user inputtedportions, standard check elements portion (e.g., MICR number, username/address information, pay to line, and the like), and a non-usefulinformation portion (e.g., parts of the check without information, text,or content, and the like). For clarification, useful check elements mayinclude, but is not limited to, any of the handwritten portions of thecheck, any information inputted on the check by the payor or payee ofthe check, pre-existing check elements that relate to standard featuresor information on a check (e.g., Name and address of the account holderassociated with the check, check number, a labeled or designated portionfor inserting a date (e.g., “Date _(——————)”), Payee section (e.g., “Payto the Order of” section), check amount box (e.g., “$ _(——————)”), checkamount line (e.g., check portion for handwriting the check amount), amemo portion for indicating the purpose of the check (e.g., “Memo_(——————)”), a signature line portion for endorsing the checkinstrument, a routing and/or transit number portion, an account numberportion, any other elements on a check that contains information foridentifying the check, and the like.). For further clarification, thenon-useful check elements may include, but is not limited to, anyelements of a check without written or numerical information, anyelements of the check without coded information (e.g., watermarks, MICR,and the like), the background of the check, the design elements of thecheck, and the like.

Regarding block 840, the system executing process flow 800, in someembodiments stores a thumbnail image of a check separately from thecaptured images of the one or more check elements of a standard checkimage. In such an embodiment, the system associates the thumbnail imageof the check and the one or more check elements by appending meta datato either of the thumbnail image or, at least, one of the images of theone or more check elements, wherein the meta data relates the thumbnailand the one or more check elements to each other for retrieval from adatabase. For example, the system may append to an image of a checkamount (e.g., $5.00) an account number, a check number, and the storagelocation of all other check elements and thumbnail image of the standardcheck image such that a user searching for a check may query or search adatabase for a check by entering an account number and/or check numberand the results of the search is one or more thumbnail images of checksand images of the one or more check elements, respectively,corresponding to each of the one or more thumbnail images of the checks.Yet, in other embodiments, the system stores the thumbnail image of acheck and the associated one or more images of check elements together.

In some embodiments, the system stores the thumbnail image of a check ina different file format than the captured images of the one or morecheck elements of a standard check image, wherein the thumbnail image isstored in a file format resulting in an image of a lesser quality and/orfile size than the captured images of the one or more check elements ofthe check image.

Regarding block 850, in some embodiments, upon request by a user, thesystem executing process flow 850 generates a substantial recreation ofan original check image using a thumbnail image of the original checkimage and images of one or more elements of the original check image. Insuch an embodiment, the system enhances the thumbnail image of theoriginal check image by enlarging the thumbnail image of the check imageto substantially similar dimensions (e.g., height, width, and the like)of the original check image. In addition, in some embodiments, thesystem further enhances the enlarged thumbnail image of the check imageby integrating or adding to the enlarged thumbnail image the associatedimages of the one or more check elements of the original check. In thisway, although various portions of the enlarged thumbnail of the checkmay not have, as high quality and/or image resolution similar to theoriginal check image, by adding the images of the one or more checkelements a user should readily be able to verify the useful/significantelements of the check. This is also because the images of the one ormore check elements of the original check image are not altered from theimage quality and/or resolution of the original check image. Thus, theimages of the one or more check elements of the original check will havethe same appearance as if they were on the original check image. Theimage resulting from the enhanced thumbnail image of the check image isa new image different from the original/standard image of the check thatmay have been captured at the time of deposit or receipt by a system ordevice associated with a financial institution.

In some embodiments, one or more of the portions of the process flowsrepresented by blocks, 610-640, 710-740, and 810-850 are triggered byone or more triggering events, which, in some embodiments, include theperformance of one or more of the other portions of the process flowrepresented by blocks 610-640, 710-740, and 810-850. Also, in someembodiments, the system executing process flows 600, 700, or 800 areconfigured to perform one or more portions (or combinations of portions)of the process flows represented by blocks 610-640, 710-740, and810-850, from start to finish, within moments, seconds, and/or minutes.

Although many embodiments of the present invention have just beendescribed above, the present invention may be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Also, it will beunderstood that, where possible, any of the advantages, features,functions, devices, and/or operational aspects of any of the embodimentsof the present invention described and/or contemplated herein may beincluded in any of the other embodiments of the present inventiondescribed and/or contemplated herein, and/or vice versa. In addition,where possible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein aremeant to also include the plural form and/or vice versa, unlessexplicitly stated otherwise. Accordingly, the terms “a” and/or “an”shall mean “one or more,” even though the phrase “one or more” is alsoused herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in view ofthis disclosure, the present invention may include and/or be embodied asan apparatus (including, for example, a system, machine, device,computer program product, and/or the like), as a method (including, forexample, a business method, computer-implemented process, and/or thelike), or as any combination of the foregoing. Accordingly, embodimentsof the present invention may take the form of an entirely businessmethod embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware,resident software, micro-code, stored procedures in a database, etc.),an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining businessmethod, software, and hardware aspects that may generally be referred toherein as a “system.” Furthermore, embodiments of the present inventionmay take the form of a computer program product that includes acomputer-readable storage medium having one or more computer-executableprogram code portions stored therein. As used herein, a processor, whichmay include one or more processors, may be “configured to” perform acertain function in a variety of ways, including, for example, by havingone or more general-purpose circuits perform the function by executingone or more computer-executable program code portions embodied in acomputer-readable medium, and/or by having one or moreapplication-specific circuits perform the function.

It will be understood that any suitable computer-readable medium may beutilized. The computer-readable medium may include, but is not limitedto, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a tangibleelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, and/orsemiconductor system, device, and/or other apparatus. For example, insome embodiments, the non-transitory computer-readable medium includes atangible medium such as a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM), and/or some other tangible optical and/ormagnetic storage device. In other embodiments of the present invention,however, the computer-readable medium may be transitory, such as, forexample, a propagation signal including computer-executable program codeportions embodied therein.

One or more computer-executable program code portions for carrying outoperations of the present invention may include object-oriented,scripted, and/or unscripted programming languages, such as, for example,Java, Perl, Smalltalk, C++, SAS, SQL, Python, Objective C, JavaScript,and/or the like. In some embodiments, the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions for carrying out operations ofembodiments of the present invention are written in conventionalprocedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming languagesand/or similar programming languages. The computer program code mayalternatively or additionally be written in one or more multi-paradigmprogramming languages, such as, for example, F#.

Some embodiments of the present invention are described herein withreference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of apparatusand/or methods. It will be understood that each block included in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and/or combinations ofblocks included in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams,may be implemented by one or more computer-executable program codeportions. These one or more computer-executable program code portionsmay be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, and/or some other programmable data processingapparatus in order to produce a particular machine, such that the one ormore computer-executable program code portions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer and/or other programmable data processingapparatus, create mechanisms for implementing the steps and/or functionsrepresented by the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram block(s).

The one or more computer-executable program code portions may be storedin a transitory and/or non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., amemory, etc.) that can direct, instruct, and/or cause a computer and/orother programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the computer-executable program code portions storedin the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufactureincluding instruction mechanisms which implement the steps and/orfunctions specified in the flowchart(s) and/or block diagram block(s).

The one or more computer-executable program code portions may also beloaded onto a computer and/or other programmable data processingapparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer and/or other programmable apparatus. In some embodiments, thisproduces a computer-implemented process such that the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions which execute on the computerand/or other programmable apparatus provide operational steps toimplement the steps specified in the flowchart(s) and/or the functionsspecified in the block diagram block(s). Alternatively,computer-implemented steps may be combined with, and/or replaced with,operator- and/or human-implemented steps in order to carry out anembodiment of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for capturing and storing elementsof a negotiable instrument for use in image recreation, the systemcomprising: an image capture device; a database; a processing device incommunication with the capture device and the database, wherein theprocessing device is used to: receive an image of the negotiableinstrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrument comprises oneor more elements that are used for processing the negotiable instrumentand non-element portions that are not used in processing the negotiableinstrument; capture, using the image capture device, images for each ofthe one or more elements of the negotiable instrument, wherein theimages comprise at least a payor signature image, an amount image, and apayor information image; alter the resolution of at least the payorsignature image and the amount image to a first resolution; alter theresolution of at least the payor information image to a secondresolution, wherein the second resolution is lower than the firstresolution; alter the resolution of the non-element portions of theimage of the negotiable instrument to a third resolution, wherein thethird resolution is lower than the second resolution; store the imagesof the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument in thedatabase; store, as white space, the non-element portions of the imageof the negotiable instrument in the database; receive a request from auser to retrieve information associated with the negotiable instrument,wherein the information comprises a user selection of one or morespecific elements associated with the negotiable instrument; retrievefrom the database, the one or more specific elements selected by theuser based on at least the received request; and generate a partialimage of the negotiable instrument based on at least the one or moreretrieved specific elements selected by the user.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the processing device is further configured to: generate asecond image of the negotiable instrument using the images of the one ormore elements of the negotiable instrument and the non-element portionsof the image of the negotiable instrument that was previously stored aswhite space.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the generated secondimage of the negotiable instrument comprises a first portion with afirst image resolution and a second portion with a second imageresolution.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing device isfurther configured to: separate the elements of the negotiableinstrument and the non-element portions of the negotiable instrumentinto a plurality of quadrants, wherein the processing device stores thequadrants comprising elements of the negotiable instrument in a firstimage resolution and the quadrants comprising non-element portions ofthe negotiable instrument in a second image resolution.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to:bifurcate the one or more images of the elements of the negotiableinstrument and the non-element portions of the negotiable instrumentsuch that the one or more images of the elements of the negotiableinstrument can be stored with a higher image quality than thenon-element portions of the negotiable instrument.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the negotiable instrument is a check, and wherein theimages of the one or more elements of the negotiable include, at least,one of a Name, Address, Date, Check number, Payee, Check amount, Checkamount line, Memo, Signature line, Routing and transit number, andChecking account number located on the image of the check.
 7. Acomputer-implemented method for capturing and storing elements of anegotiable instrument for use in image recreation, thecomputer-implemented method comprising: providing a computer processorexecuting non-transitory computer-readable instruction code specificallystructured to cause the computer processor to: receive an image of thenegotiable instrument, wherein the image of the negotiable instrumentcomprises one or more elements that are used for processing thenegotiable instrument and non-element portions that are not used inprocessing the negotiable instrument; capture, using the image capturedevice, images for each of the one or more elements of the negotiableinstrument, wherein the images comprise at least a payor signatureimage, an amount image, and a payor information image; alter theresolution of the image of at least the payor signature image and theamount image to a first resolution; alter the resolution of at least thepayor information image to a second resolution, wherein the secondresolution is lower than the first resolution; alter the resolution ofthe non-element portions of the image of the negotiable instrument to athird resolution, wherein the third resolution is lower than the secondresolution; store the images of the one or more elements of thenegotiable instrument in the database; store, as white space, thenon-element portions of the image of the negotiable instrument in thedatabase at a lower resolution than the resolution of each of the imagesof the one or more elements; receive a request from a user to retrieveinformation associated with the negotiable instrument, wherein theinformation comprises a user selection of one or more specific elementsassociated with the negotiable instrument; retrieve from the database,the one or more specific elements selected by the user based on at leastthe received request; and generate a partial image of the negotiableinstrument based on at least the one or more retrieved specific elementsselected by the user.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7,wherein the computer processor is further executing computer-readableinstruction code specifically configured to cause the computer processorto: generate a second image of the negotiable instrument using theimages of the one or more elements of the negotiable instrument and thenon-element portions of the image of the negotiable instrument that waspreviously stored as white space.
 9. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 8, wherein the generated second image of the negotiable instrumentcomprises a first portion with a first image resolution and a secondportion with a second image resolution.
 10. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 7, wherein the computer processor is further executingcomputer-readable instruction code specifically configured to cause thecomputer processor to: separate the elements of the negotiableinstrument and the non-element portions of the negotiable instrumentinto a plurality of quadrants, wherein the processing device stores thequadrants comprising elements of the negotiable instrument in a firstimage resolution and the quadrants comprising non-element portions ofthe negotiable instrument in a second image resolution.
 11. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the computer processoris further executing computer-readable instruction code specificallyconfigured to cause the computer processor to: bifurcate the one or moreimages of the elements of the negotiable instrument and the non-elementportions of the negotiable instrument such that the one or more imagesof the elements of the negotiable instrument can be stored with a higherimage quality than the non-element portions of the negotiableinstrument.
 12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein thenegotiable instrument is a check, and wherein the images of the one ormore elements of the negotiable include, at least, one of a Name,Address, Date, Check number, Payee, Check amount, Check amount line,Memo, Signature line, Routing and transit number, and Checking accountnumber located on the image of the check.
 13. A computer program productfor capturing and storing elements of a negotiable instrument for use inimage recreation, the computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium comprises one or more computer-executableprogram code portions that, when executed by a computer, cause thecomputer to: receive an image of the negotiable instrument, wherein theimage of the negotiable instrument comprises one or more elements thatare used for processing the negotiable instrument and non-elementportions that are not used in processing the negotiable instrument;capture, using the image capture device, images images for each of theone or more elements of the negotiable instrument, wherein the imagescomprise at least a payor signature image, an amount image, and a payorinformation image; alter the resolution of at least the payor signatureimage and the amount image to a first resolution; alter the resolutionof at least the payor information image to a second resolution, whereinthe second resolution is lower than the first resolution; alter theresolution of the non-element portions of the image of the negotiableinstrument to a third resolution, wherein the third resolution is lowerthan the second resolution; store the images of the one or more elementsof the negotiable instrument in the database; store, as white space, thenon-element portions of the image of the negotiable instrument in thedatabase at a lower resolution than the resolution of each of the imagesof the one or more elements; receive a request from a user to retrieveinformation associated with the negotiable instrument, wherein theinformation comprises a user selection of one or more specific elementsassociated with the negotiable instrument; retrieve from the database,the one or more specific elements selected by the user based on at leastthe received request; and generate a partial image of the negotiableinstrument based on at least the one or more retrieved specific elementsselected by the user.
 14. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the one or more computer-executable program code portions, whenexecuted by the computer, cause the computer to: generate a second imageof the negotiable instrument using the images of the one or moreelements of the negotiable instrument and the non-element portions ofthe image of the negotiable instrument that was previously stored aswhite space.
 15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein theone or more computer-executable program code portions, when executed bythe computer, cause the computer to: separate the elements of thenegotiable instrument and the non-element portions of the negotiableinstrument into a plurality of quadrants, wherein the processing devicestores the quadrants comprising elements of the negotiable instrument ina first image resolution and the quadrants comprising non-elementportions of the negotiable instrument in a second image resolution. 16.The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the one or morecomputer-executable program code portions, when executed by thecomputer, cause the computer to: bifurcate the one or more images of theelements of the negotiable instrument and the non-element portions ofthe negotiable instrument such that the one or more images of theelements of the negotiable instrument can be stored with a higher imagequality than the non-element portions of the negotiable instrument. 17.The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the negotiableinstrument is a check, and wherein the images of the one or moreelements of the negotiable include, at least, one of a Name, Address,Date, Check number, Payee, Check amount, Check amount line, Memo,Signature line, Routing and transit number, and Checking account numberlocated on the image of the check.